Nick "Lesona" Johnson is an esports journalist with a focus on CS:GO and the OWL. His interest for esports started with CS:S and grew into a career as both an esports writer and an avid fan, giving him a unique perspective on both the casual and professional scenes. Twitter: @Lesona_

CSGO: Coach Kane next to Depart Na`Vi after BLAST Pro Series Moscow

Na`Vi announced that long-time coach Mykhailo “Kane” Blagin will leave the team after BLAST Pro Series Moscow.

In an official release today, Natus Vincere announced that Mykhailo “Kane” Blagin will leave the team after the conclusion of BLAST Pro Series Moscow. The news comes just two days after Na`Vi announced the retirement of Danylo “Zeus” Teslenko, another long-time member of the CIS roster.

Both roster moves come just days after the end of the StarLadder Berlin Major, where Na`Vi made a decent run before being stopped dead in their tracks against NRG in the quarterfinals.

Blagin coached the Na`Vi roster starting in August of 2017. Under his watch, Na`Vi placed second at the FACEIT Major 2018 in London and reached the semifinals of both the 2018 ELEAGUE Boston Major and the 2019 Intel Extreme Masters XIII in Katowice earlier this year.

Blagin had this to say on his upcoming departure from the CIS squad:

I would like to express my gratitude, first of all, to the fans of ours: I felt your support throughout 2 years — a big and sincere thank! I am sad to part ways with the guys who became a part of my life, but such is the work of a coach. I have to admit 2019 wasn’t the most successful in terms of results. Unfortunately, the main goal — winning a Major — remained unfulfilled. I will keep the memories of 2018, which I consider a successful year, and will be glad that some of the cups in NAVI museum are there in part due to my work.

Kane will coach his last matches for Na`Vi as the organization’s head coach at BLAST Pro Series Moscow, which takes place from this Friday the 13th to Saturday the 14th in Moscow, Russia.